Deborah Moody facts for kids
Deborah, Lady Moody (born Deborah Dunch) lived from 1586 to about 1659. She is famous for starting the town of Gravesend, Brooklyn in America. She was the only woman known to have founded a village in the early days of the American colonies. Lady Moody was also the first known woman to own land in the New World. As a rich and titled woman, she had a lot of influence in New Netherland, where people respected her. Before this, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, she was called "a dangerous woman" by others. She had moved there after leaving England because of her Anabaptist beliefs. She chose to be removed from the church rather than give up what she believed.
Contents
Lady Moody's Life Story
Her Early Life
Deborah Dunch was born in London, England, in 1586. Her father was Walter Dunch from Avebury Manor in Wiltshire. Her mother was also named Deborah. Her mother's father was James Pilkington, who was a Bishop of Durham. Deborah's grandfather on her father's side was Sir William Dunch, who checked the money for the Royal Mint.
In 1606, Deborah married Sir Henry Moody, 1st Baronet. Because of her marriage, she became known as Lady Moody. Her husband passed away in 1629 when he was 46 years old, and she became a widow.
Moving to America
Lady Moody left England in 1639. She had adopted Anabaptist beliefs, which were not allowed by the main church in England. At 54 years old, she settled in Saugus, Massachusetts. She then moved to a large farm near Salem. She wrote letters to other religious people who did not follow the main church. This made her neighbor, Reverend Hugh Peter, unhappy. He believed everyone in the Massachusetts Puritan colony should have the same religious beliefs. He had already sent away another Anabaptist woman, Anne Hutchinson, two years before Lady Moody arrived.
In 1643, Lady Moody was put on trial. People said she was spreading different religious ideas. A Puritan leader named John Endecott called her a "dangerous woman" during her trial. The Church told her to change her beliefs or be removed from the church.
Lady Moody chose to be removed. She gathered other Anabaptists who shared her beliefs. They decided to find a new place where they could practice their religion peacefully.
Starting a New Town
In 1643, Director Willem Kieft of the Dutch West India Company was looking for new settlers. He wanted more people to live in New Netherland. He had faced some conflicts with the local Lenape people and wanted more settlers to help protect the land. Lady Moody had money and people who followed her. She accepted the chance to create a new community.
The Netherlands and its colonies allowed more religious freedom. This was because they wanted to encourage trade. So, Lady Moody's Anabaptist beliefs were not a problem there. The Dutch West India Company gave Lady Moody land at the southwestern tip of Long Island. This area now includes parts of Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and Sheepshead Bay. Lady Moody named her new community Gravesend.
Gravesend was the first settlement in the New World started by a woman. Lady Moody allowed complete religious freedom in Gravesend. This was as long as it followed the laws of the colony.
As Gravesend grew, Lady Moody became more important in the government of New Netherland. She was one of the few important settlers invited to meet the new Director-General, Peter Stuyvesant, when he arrived in 1647. Stuyvesant asked her to help solve a tax problem in 1654. In 1655, she was asked to choose leaders for Gravesend. Lady Moody lived in Gravesend until she passed away in 1659.
Gravesend Today
Today, Gravesend is part of Brooklyn in New York City. The original town square can still be seen in the way the streets are laid out. It is now called Lady Moody Square (see photo) to honor its founder.
In 2014, Lady Moody was honored for founding Gravesend. This happened during "Built by Women New York City," a competition. It found amazing places and spaces designed or built by women. A memorial was put up for her at Lady Moody Square in Gravesend.
See also
In Spanish: Deborah Moody para niños
